Wheel-block for automobiles.



J. G. ZOLL.

WHEEL BLOCK FOB AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED APB.2, 1913.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

l V vb Maow 3 OFFICE.

JOHN 0. 20th, or NORTHSTAR, MICHIGAN.

WHEEL-BLOCK FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 24;, 1914.

Application filed April 2, 1913. Serial No. 758,360.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN C. ZOLL, a citizenof the United States, residing at Northstar, in the county of Gratiot,State of lllichigan, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements inWheel-Blocks for Automobiles; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact "de scription of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to'which'it appertains to make and usethe same.

The present invention is directed to improvements in wheel blocks forautomobiles, and has for its object to so construct a device of thischaracter that it maybe easily and quickly attached to or removed fromthe wheel. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter so constructed that when attached to the wheel the same willbe prevented from slipping when traveling over muddy roads.

A still further object of the invention is to construct a device of thistype which is applied to one of the drive wheels of an automobile sothat the same can grip the soil to start the automobile should it becomestalled.

With these and. other objects in View, this invention resides in thenovel features of construction, formation,. combination and arrangementof parts to be hereinafter .more fully described, claimed andillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which 2- Figure 1 is a sideelevation of, a portion of a wheel and tire showing the device in placethereon. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is abottom plan view of the block. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the same.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a portion of the rearwheel of an automobile, and 2 the usual pneumatic tire.

The block is rectangu or in shape and is formed from wood, and has itsupper surface formed with a transverse gradually rounded groote 4;,which is engaged by the tire 2' when the device is attached to thewheel. A pair of slots 5 are formed in the V block 3 and have one oftheir ends opening adjacent the sides of the groove 4, and their otherends intersecting with the ends of the longitudinal groove 6 formed inthe outer] surface of the block. The strap 7 is passed through the slots5 and has a portion of its length engaged in the groove 6, the depth ofwhich is such that the strap will have its outer surface on a plane withthe outer surface of the block. To one end of the strap is attached abuckle 8 which engages the other end of the strap in the usual manner,thereby providing a device which can be easily and quickly attached toor removed from the wheel.

As the blocks are made from wood it is probable. that there would a.tendency to split from constant use, and to prevent this, bolts 9 areprovided, and are passed trans versely through the blocks, and adjacentthe ends thereof. I

From this construction it will be seen that a device of this type hasbeen produced which being made from wood is extremely light, yetperforming the desired function in an eflicient and practical manner.

It is obvious that the block'3 can be formed from metal, hard rubber, orany suitable material.

What is claimed is In combination with a wheel rim having a pneumatictire thereon, of a block having one of its surfaces formed with atransverse V groove for engagement with the tire, and its outer surfaceprovided with a 1011 'tudinal groove, slots extending throu h t eblockand opening at their inner en s at the ends of the grooves, a strapengaging said slots and having a portionof its length resting in thelongitudinal groove, said strap hav ing its end buckled to engage therim to hold the block upon the tire. I

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN. C. ZOLL.

Witnesses:

R. L. Sesame, E. P. Gnor'r.

